Fixer behind Newcastle United takeover almost sealed powerful new owners of Liverpool

Amanda Staveley in the stands during the Newcastle vs Liverpool game (Image: Owen Humphreys/PA Wire)

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After a series of false dawns, it looks as though a takeover at Newcastle United is close.

Supporters of the Magpies have long wanted to see the back of owner Mike Ashley, and it looks as though they'll soon get their wish.

Liverpool fans will appreciate their position, of course, having been desperate to see former owners Tom Hicks and George Gillett leave the club before FSG's finally took over the Reds after a high court battle in 2010.

Back to the present, and a charge agreement has been lodged at Companies House for the North East club, detailing the legal framework for a sale, suggesting an end to discussions with a consortium led by Amanda Staveley could be on the way after years of on-off talks.

Staveley’s consortium includes businessmen David and Simon Reuben, with Saudia Arabia's Public Investment Fund understood to be offering considerable financial backing.

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If Staveley's name is familiar to Liverpool fans, it's because the businesswoman could have actually ended the reign of Hicks and Gillett after just one year.

Back in 2008, Liverpool were in the first full season of the Hicks and Gillett era, with the Americans having taken over the club in February the previous year.

However, the owners weren’t universally popular with Reds fans to say the least, and when Staveley fronted a bid for the club involving Dubai International Capital, it garnered some support. Indeed a fan banner at Liverpool’s league game against West Ham United declared “We want one DIC not two”.

The interest came after DIC had first reportedly been in the mix before Hicks & Gillett completed their takeover in 2007, and Staveley revealed at the time that an agreement for Gillett to sell his stake and DIC to co-own the club with Hicks had been close.

“Amanda is known and trusted by her contacts in the Gulf like almost no other non-Arab,” a source told The Independent at the time.

“When the call came from Sheikh Mansour's representatives it would have been in no small part due to the fact that they knew they were dealing with Amanda."

The proposed Liverpool investment would have brought Staveley a place on the club’s board, according to reports at the time, but Hicks ultimately backed out of discussions due to concerns about how the club would be run were DIC to take a 49% stake.

"DIC made it clear that if they invested in the club, they would want it to be managed by committee,” the American said in March 2008, in a statement confirming the termination of talks.

"It is clear to me that such a committee approach would not be in the best interest of Kop, of the club or of the club's loyal and passionate supporters."

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Hicks and Gillett remained co-owners of Liverpool until late 2010, when the FSG takeover was officially completed.

Back in 2017, Staveley was present at the Reds’ Premier League meeting with Newcastle at St James’ Park, prompting speculation that her interest in a Liverpool takeover could be returning. However, it soon emerged that her new consortium, including Saudi interests, was focused on the opposition.

Now, almost three years on, it appears as though Staveley will finally get her wish of being involved in a Premier League club.

However, as we can see from Staveley’s involvement with Liverpool back in 2008, the process is rarely entirely straightforward.